Firefighters seek cause of house fire

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, February 11, 2008

"Oh, my goodness! It sounded like a helicopter's swirling sound -- almost like a tornado," declared Lisa Lawson of the noise made by flames lapping above the trees. The fire was visible from her home, separated from the site by a small pond.

"There were black puffs of smoke, and then you could see the blaze coming through the trees. It was unbelievable."

All that was left after firefighters cleared the scene Sunday night was some floor decking and a chimney.

Fire Marshal Karen Alward, assisted by inspectors from the Connecticut State Fire Marshal's Office, said the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

She said firefighters spent about seven hours at the scene Sunday night.

The house, whose listed owners are David Keal and Margaret Shea, was completely ablaze when firefighters arrived about 4:30 p.m.

Resident Steff Coleman said she didn't see or hear anything until firefighters started driving up the narrow, unpaved dirt road. She commended the volunteer firefighters' yeoman's efforts, which were complicated by a snow squall.

"Living in a rural area, we really appreciate them," Coleman said. She was grateful no one was injured.

Lawson agreed that the weather conditions added to what was already a surreal experience.